When perfecting your skincare routine, the order in which you apply products can significantly affect their effectiveness. One common question is whether to use face oil before or after moisturizer. Understanding the sequence can optimize your regimen, ensuring your skin receives the maximum benefits from each product.

Understanding Face Oils and Moisturizers

Face oils and moisturizers are pivotal in any skincare regimen, each offering distinct benefits contributing to skin health. Moisturizers are usually water-based and are primarily designed to hydrate the skin. On the other hand, face oils are occlusives, meaning they act as a sealant to lock in moisture.

Face oils contain essential fatty acids, vitamins such as A, C, and E, and antioxidants that penetrate deep to nourish and rejuvenate skin cells. Also, oils form a barrier that protects the skin from harsh environmental elements like wind and cold. Understanding these products' specific properties and benefits is essential for determining their optimal use in your skincare routine, depending on your skin type and environmental factors.

Should You Apply Face Oil Before or After Moisturizer?

A general rule of thumb: apply face oil after moisturizer to seal in hydration and nourish your skin.

Many skincare experts recommend layering products from lightest to heaviest. Since facial oils are typically thicker and more concentrated than moisturizers, applying them last helps prevent moisture loss and ensures all the benefits of your previous skincare steps are locked in.

Can You Use Face Oil Without Moisturizer? 

Absolutely!

While layering face oil over moisturizer is considered the gold standard for deep hydration, using only a high-quality face oil can be just as effective—if not better—for some skin types. 

Why Face Oils Alone Can Work

Face oils are rich in essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins, making them powerful moisturizers on their own. Unlike traditional creams that contain water and emulsifiers, oils provide pure, concentrated nourishment without unnecessary fillers.

• Oils help prevent moisture loss by sealing hydration into the skin.
• They balance sebum production, making them ideal for oily, dry, and combination skin types.
• They provide deep nourishment without the need for synthetic additives found in many moisturizers.

Why Szeeking JOY’s Face Oils Are the Perfect Standalone Moisturizer

At Szeeking JOY, our face oils are crafted with organic, cold-pressed ingredients that deliver hydration, repair, and rejuvenation in every drop. Whether you’re looking for pro-aging benefits, skin renewal, or deep nourishment, our oils are designed to replace or enhance your traditional moisturizer.

Bakuchiol Rejuvenating Face Oil – Your Daily Glow Booster

Perfect for: All skin types, especially those looking for anti-aging & skin-brightening

This lightweight yet deeply nourishing blend is packed with antioxidants, fatty acids, and plant-based retinol alternative bakuchiol, making it a perfect choice for hydration, skin renewal, and anti-aging benefits.

Key Ingredients & Benefits:
✔ Organic Prickly Pear Seed Oil – Contains the highest concentration of Vitamin E among plant oils, helping to fight free radicals, reduce fine lines, and improve elasticity.
✔ Organic Rosehip Seed Oil – High in essential fatty acids and Vitamin C, helping to brighten skin tone and fade dark spots.
✔ Bakuchiol – A gentle, plant-based alternative to retinol that boosts collagen production and reduces fine lines without irritation.
✔ Frankincense & Lavender Essential Oils – Known for their soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, promoting a calm, youthful complexion.

Why It Works Without a Moisturizer:
This oil is lightweight yet deeply penetrating, making it ideal as a stand-alone hydrator. It delivers all the benefits of a moisturizer—hydration, skin barrier support, and nourishment—without clogging pores or feeling heavy.

Night Renewal Face Oil – Deep Restoration While You Sleep

Perfect for: Dry, mature, or stressed skin needing deep repair

Designed to rejuvenate and restore while you sleep, this ultra-nourishing face oil supports cell renewal, so you wake up with plumper, smoother, and more hydrated skin.

Key Ingredients & Benefits:
✔ Organic Castor Oil – A natural humectant that locks in moisture and promotes healing.
✔ Organic Black Seed Oil – Known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties, helping to soothe redness and irritation.
✔ Organic Argan Oil – Deeply hydrating and rich in Vitamin E, perfect for softening fine lines.
✔ Bakuchiol – Provides retinol-like benefits without irritation, supporting collagen production and improving elasticity.
✔ Helichrysum & Frankincense Essential Oils – Powerhouses for skin renewal, reducing fine lines and evening out skin tone.

Why It Works Without a Moisturizer:
This face oil is rich in nourishing botanical extracts that repair, hydrate, and protect—no additional moisturizer is needed. Its blend of restorative oils helps reduce overnight moisture loss, making it an excellent choice for those who prefer a minimal skincare routine.

Addressing Common Misconceptions

It’s important to dispel some common misconceptions about using face oils. Oils do not necessarily cause acne; in fact, many skincare ingredients added to oils, like bakuchiol, have anti-inflammatory and soothing properties that can help calm skin and even reduce breakouts. Additionally, face oils can be used on all skin types—just be sure to select the type that best suits your skin’s needs.

Szeeking JOY is committed to delivering the power of natural skincare. We carry a large selection of non-toxic, chemical-free face oils and serums designed to nourish your skin effectively. By incorporating our products into your beauty routine, you're treating your skin to high-quality care and supporting sustainable practices. Discover how Szeeking JOY ensures that every step of your skincare regimen is handled with the utmost dedication to care and quality, making a noticeable difference in your skin's health.